Support garment

ABSTRACT

This garment is made of two way stretch woven cloth to hold and slim the abdomen, nip the waist and hug the wearer and give a trim appearance. This garment is smooth, comfortable and firm without binding. The garment holds the wearer evenly all around and improves posture. At the front of the garment there is a reinforcing panel of non-stretch cloth with a central vertical zipper to close it to flatten the stomach bulge. The zipper is opened to make it easier to don or doff the garment.

United States Patent [1 1 Bienenfeld 1 Jan. 16, 1973 541 SUPPORT GARMENT 3,525,342 8/1970 Kamin.... ..128 541 Inventor: Myron Bienenfeld, Lawrence, N-Y 3,177,877 4/1965 Popp ..128/547 [73] Assignee: Magic Mold, lnc., Freeport, L.l., Pri E i -G r e V, La kin Att0rneyJ. B. Felshin [22] Filed: March 23, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No: 127,232

- This garment is made of two way stretch woven cloth to hold and slim the abdomen, nip the waist and hug [52] US. Cl ..l28/547 the wearer and give a trim appearance This garment [51] Int. Cl. ..A4lc l/00 is smooth, comfortable and i without binding The [58] Fleld of Search ..l28/546549, 427, garment holds the wearer evenly all around and 128/429 442; 2/109 113 proves posture. At the front of the garment there is a reinforcing panel of non-stretch cloth with a central [56] References C'ted vertical zipper to close it to flatten the stomach bulge. UNITED STATES PATENTS The zipper is opened to make it easier to don or doff the garment. 3,533,412 10/1970 Bayer ..128/547 3,332,426 7/1967 Kaplan ..l28/44l 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 16 I975 3.710.801

sum 1 or 2 l F 4 INVENTOR Pmmimmsma 3.710.801

SHEET 2 [IF 2 9 A/Vwn 225922 540 SUPPORT GARMENT This invention relates to support garments.

An object of this invention is to provide a garment of the character described comprising an encircling body of two way elastic, stretch woven cloth, with a front reinforcing non-elastic panel to flatten the stomach bulge.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support garment of the character described in which the panel is stitched to the garment at its sides and bottom, leaving a free top edge and said panel having a central vertical split closed by a zipped extending to the middle of said free upper edge, whereby when the zipper slide is pulled down, the panel opens up to relieve pressure on the abdomen and to facilitate donning and doffing of the garment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a strong and durable garment of the character described which will slim the abdomen, nip the waist and hug the wearer, which garment shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall be smooth, comfortable and firm to wear, without binding, which shall hold the wearer evenly all around and improve the wearers posture, and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention,

FIG. I is a perspective view of a mans athletic undershirt support garment embodying the invention, on

a figure and showing the panel zipper closed;

FIG. 2 is a view of the shirt similar to FIG. 1 but showing the zipper open;

FIG. 3 is an elarged cross-sectional view taken on line 33 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a modified form of the invention and comprising a ladies panty girdle on a figure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the garment shown in FIG. 5, but with the panel zipper opened up;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the garment shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 6

Referring now in detail to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawing, 10 designates a mans support garment in the form of an athletic type undershirt embodying the invention. The same comprises a body 11 encircling the body of the wearer and made of two way stretch or elastic woven cloth, such. as Lycra Spandex and nylon or of any other elastic sheet material. The body may be made of knitted textile fabric or of any other elastic sheet material.

Said body 11 has armholes l2 and a central neck hole 13, forming top shoulder strap portions 14. The armholes 12 and neck hole 13 may have binding edges 12a, 13a, respectively, as shown. The shirt body 11 has a lower binding edge 15 disposed below the waistline, and located substantially at the hips of the wearer. Since this undershirt is elastic, it will hold the body of the wearer evenly all around and slim the abdomen, nip the waist and hug the back, thus improving the posture of the wearer and allow the wearer to wear a trimmer jacket and knit outer sport shirts comfortably.

Attached to the outer, portion front of the body 11 which overlies the abdomen below the waistline, is a reinforcing panel 20 of diamond shape, truncated at the top and bottom. This panel is made of non-stretch or inelastic textile cloth. It has a bottom edge 21 stitched to the lower binding edge 15 of the body. Extending from the ends of the lower edge 21 of the panel 20 are upwardly and outwardly inclined edges 22 stitched to the body 11. Extending from the upper end of edges 22 are upwardly and inwardly inclined side edges 23 also stitched to the body 11. The edges 22, 23 at the right and the left of the garment are symmetrical with respect to each other. Said panel has a top free edge 24. Said panel also has a central, vertical split 25 extending from the upper edge 24 to a point vertically about half way from upper ends of edges 22 to the lower edge 21. The split edges can be closed by a zipper construction 26. When the zipper slide 27 is pulled down, the split opens. When the slide is pulled up, the zipper closes.

When the shirt is off and the body of the shirt is not stretched, the portion 11" of the wearer is superposed by the panel 20. If the zipper is pulled closed, in such unworn condition, the portion 1 1 will not be constricted by the panel, since the panel and portion 11 it overlies, are of the same configuration and size.

However, if the shirt, when worn, is stretched, closing of the zipper will constrict the portion 11 to aid in flattening the abdomen of the wearer. The zipper should be-opened up to facilitate donning or dofting of the garment.

In FIGS. 5 to 9 of the drawing there is shown a support garment 40 embodying the invention in the form of a panted garment. The garment 40 is here shown in the form of a panty girdle for ladies, it being understood that support garments with pant legs may also embody the invention with enlargement at the crotch and with respect to length of the pant leg portions of the garment for men.

The garment 40 comprises a body 41 made of two way stretch elastic material, the same as that of which body 11 is made.

Said body 41 has an upper portion 42 encircling the body of the wearer and extending down from an upper waistline edge 43 and covering the waistportion and abdomen, lower end of the wearers back as well as the hips of the wearer. Extending down from said portion 42 are pants leg portions 44 and a crotch portion 45.

Stitched to the front portion 46 of the portion 42, which overlies the abdomen, is a panel P of non-elastic cloth, in the shape of a diamond truncated at the top, adjacent the waistline 43. The panel is stitched to the body 41 of the garment along lines of stitching 47 diverging upwardly from the crotch 45. Extending upwardly and inwardly from the upper ends of lines of stitching 47, are lines of stitching 48. Lines of stitching 48 extend to spaced points 49 at the waistline.

The panel P forms a pocket with the body portion 46 which lies beneath said panel. The upper end edge 50 of the panel is free, and not stitched to the front portion of the waistline 43. The pocket hence opens to the top.

Said panel is of the same size, shape and dimension as the portion 46 of the body, which it overlies, when the garment is not being worn, or not stretched.

Said panel P is split centrally downwardly from the middle of the upper edge 50 thereof to a point spaced above the crotch 45. The split edges 51 of the split, are provided with zipper means 52 on tapes 53 stitched to the panel as by lines of stitching 54. A slider 55 when pulled up fastens the split edges together.

When the zipper is open and the garment is not worn, the portion 46 of the body beneath the panel is not stretched. In such condition (doffed), if the slider is pulled up to close, the portion 46 of the body, beneath the panel is not constricted because it has the same dimensions as the panel. With the zipper open, if the garment is donned, the portion 46 is stretched, by the bulge in the abdomen. If the zipper is then pulled up to close, the stretched portion 46 is drawn toward normal condition but the bulge in the abdomen is flattened.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative.

I claim:

1. A support garment comprising a garment body encircling the body of the wearer and having a front portion overlying the abdomen of the wearer, and made of two way stretch elastic material, and a panel of substantially non-stretch material overlying said portion of the garment body and having a free transverse upper end and a split extending longitudinally down from an intermediate portion of said free end, and zipper means to close the edges of the panel formed by said split, the outer sides of said panel being stitched to said portion throughout the length of the panel and extending substantially to the outer ends of said free upper end of the panel, said free end extending substantially beyond said zipper means on both sides of said split to form flaps on opposite side of said split and at said free end of the panel, which flaps can flap away from said body when said zipper is open.

2. The combination of claim 1, the lower end of said split being located in spaced relation above the lower end of said panel and said panel being unconnected to said portion from the lower end of said split to the lower end of said panel, between the stitched outer sides of said panel.

3. The combination of claim 1, said garment comprising a torso portion and shoulder portions.

4. The combination of claim 1, said garment having an upper waistline edge and the upper edge of said panel being located at said waistline edge.

5. The combination of claim 4, said panel being also stitched at its bottom end to the body of the garment in spaced relation below the lower end of said split.

6. The combination of claim 1, said free upper end being perpendicularly disposed to said split when said zipper is closed. 

1. A support garment comprising a garment body encircling the body of the wearer and having a front portion overlying the abdomen of the wearer, and made of two way stretch elastic material, and a panel of substantially non-stretch material overlying said portion of the garment body and having a free transverse upper end and a split extending longitudinally down from an intermediate portion of said free end, and zipper means to close the edges of the panel formed by said split, the outer sides of said panel being stitched to said portion throughout the length of the panel and extending substantially to the outer ends of said free upper end of the panel, said free end extending substantially beyond said zipper means on both sides of said split to form flaps on opposite side of said split and at said free end of the panel, which flaps can flap away from said body when said zipper is open.
 2. The combination of claim 1, the lower end of said split =being located in spaced relation above the lower end of said panel and said panel being unconnected to said portion from the lower end of said split to the lower end of said panel, between the stitched outer sides of said panel.
 3. The combination of claim 1, said garment comprising a torso portion and shoulder portions.
 4. The combination of claim 1, said garment having an upper waistline edge and the upper edge of said panel being located at said waistline edge.
 5. The combination of claim 4, said panel being also stitched at its bottom end to the body of the garment in spaced relation below the lower end of said split.
 6. The combination of claim 1, said free upper end being perpendicularly disposed to said split when said zipper is closed. 